George Light, Roxtec’s specification manager for data centresThe rising demand for data centres, driven heavily by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), has resulted in a record year for safety seal manufacturer
Roxtec. The company has notched up its busiest 12‑month period to date in the sector and is currently involved in more than 40 data centre projects around the UK and mainland Europe. New figures show that Roxtec’s global sales in the data centre market rose by 89% in 2025, reflecting a surge in investment as operators work to increase resilience and improve energy efficiency.
Roxtec, whose UK and Ireland headquarters are located in Bury, Greater Manchester, is preparing for further growth as requirements for AI computing power, cloud services and digital infrastructure continue to climb. The business is globally recognised for its cable and pipe transit systems, which secure data centre facilities against fire, water ingress and air leakage, and protect critical installations from electromagnetic disturbances capable of causing outages.
The sector’s shift toward ever‑larger and more energy‑intensive facilities is adding to the pressure for robust, efficient sealing solutions. Operators face increasing environmental challenges, while extreme weather events across the UK and Europe are placing greater emphasis on protecting underground power and fibre networks from water ingress. Forecasts suggest the number of UK data centres will rise by nearly 20% over the next five years, while the European Commission has set an ambition to triple EU data centre capacity within the next decade.
Developers are therefore intensifying their focus on asset protection, carbon reduction and reducing operating costs. Roxtec is responding with new products tailored specifically for the sector, alongside initiatives to support improved sustainability performance, including the use of carbon data to highlight efficiency gains. The company is also working closely with operators on energy saving strategies, particularly in cooling systems that can consume more power than the IT hardware they support. Modelling carried out on a pilot scheme indicates that using Roxtec sealing systems to improve energy efficiency could result in savings of around £2 million.
Continued rise of AIGeorge Light, Roxtec’s specification manager for data centres, said: “We are seeing great demand for our products on both new build and extension projects, which is being powered by the continued rise of AI. We are forecasting that demand will continue to rise steeply in 2026. With this continued growth there is a real focus on asset protection and energy savings. With increasing capacity in these centres and their high energy efficiency needs, operators are putting special focus on seals as they work to manage cooling and recycle excess heat.”
Mr Light continued: “As a result, our expertise and growing range of products are proving invaluable. We have developed industry-leading tools for managing cable and pipe transits. Data centre developers are also gaining more knowledge and understanding around their needs and the products available to them – much of it driven by past lessons learned and the impact of getting things wrong when it comes to protecting their assets, which can and has proved very costly. As the world moves towards increased reliance on data centres and AI, robust infrastructure is vital. Centres require robust and versatile solutions which protect against multiple hazards, including effects of lightning strikes, gas, fire, dust, flood, humidity, rodents, electro-magnetic disturbances and the risk of explosion.”
The threats faced by operators are increasingly tangible. Underground power and fibre routes must be protected from water ingress, an issue amplified by more severe and frequent weather conditions. Maintaining power supply integrity is equally critical, with outages costing operators heavily. Fire performance requirements around structural integrity also remain a priority.
Furthermore, Roxtec continues to work closely with major players in the industry to develop new solutions that address these challenges. Its recently launched Roxtec FlamePlus transit system has been designed specifically for data centre applications, offering a lightweight, fire‑rated solution suitable for multiple cables and pipes. The company has also expanded its product portfolio to simplify the sealing of underground entries for large cables, pipes and conduits, helping operators reduce the risk of downtime and electrical faults.
Roxtec will showcase the FlamePlus system alongside its Roxtec Software Suite digital toolkit at
Data Centre World (Stand B135), the world’s largest data centre event which takes place at ExCeL London on 4-5 March, 2026.